Apple teases whiteboard collaboration tool at WWD22

Apple is positioning the next iteration of its operating system with the hybrid workplace in mind, with a range of new features coming to the iPad, Mac and iPhone that aim to enhance remote collaboration.

At Apple’s World Wide Developer’s conference yesterday, the tech giant announced a new iOS 16 feature called Freeform, which claims to give users the ability to see, share and collaborate in one place.

Freeform is a whiteboard app that can be shared – in any size – with other users in real time, allowing everyone to work on different parts of the board simultaneously.

The app integrates with Apple’s video and audio chatting platform FaceTime so that collaborators can see and hear each other while they’re working.

Users can add notes (and doodles with Apple Pencil on the iPad), enabling dispersed teams to work together on project plans. While they’re working, users can also see each person’s cursor. Changes are reflected in a corresponding group thread in its Messages feature.

Freeform supports different types of content, including text, Apple Pencil inking, images and sticky notes.

The new app is just one of many collaboration features that Apple announced to developers at the conference – the tech giant also introduced new updates for Mail, Messages, and Safari on the iPad to make collaboration and sharing easier.

Apple’s whiteboard unveiling was a ‘sneak peek’ and is not scheduled to be released before the arrival of iOS 16 this autumn.